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Joanne Craske Digital Retouching

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Joanne Craske Digital Retouching

For all your retouching needs from simple removal of imperfections, to full creative image building.

26/09/2025

So, here is a professional photo of me with my Cyprus rescue dog, Nelly. It’s part of a series taken for my website and social media. I especially like this shot of the two of us and decided I’d like to frame it—minus the office background. Not difficult, of course, except for the pesky hair! Removing some of Nelly’s hair against the black computer was simple, but my own hair blending into the background was trickier. There are countless ways to tackle hair cut-outs—honestly, I could write a book on the topic. Sometimes, though, the best option is to actually draw the hair in Photoshop using custom brushes—usually about 3 pixels wide, with 100% opacity and flow. Then, I adjust Shape Dynamics, setting the Control box to Fade, sample the right hair colour, and carefully paint the strands back in.

Now, all that’s left is to find the perfect frame!

02/09/2025

Mastering Photoshop's Latest Tools

I’ve been a bit quieter during the holiday season, which gave me time to explore the new tools that Photoshop seems to add almost daily. While I was aware of most of them, I hadn’t had a chance to try out some of the recent additions. I found this image on one of the free sites and decided to remove all the wire shadows crossing the subject’s face and body using some of the improved tools. I primarily used the upgraded ‘Remove Tool’; this tool really is a game-changer in my opinion, especially effective in ‘Find Distractions’. Unfortunately, when I attempted to use it for one-click removal in the ‘Wires and Cables’ function, it crashed Photoshop every single time! I even tried it in Photoshop Beta, but it crashed there as well!
I also did some traditional cloning in places and applied dodging and burning on a ‘soft light’ layer. Additionally, I created a ‘noise’ layer on top of the layer stack using the fairly recent ‘Add Grain’ slider in ‘Effects’ in Camera Raw to blend everything.

Here’s the final result. I’m quite pleased with it, but without client approval, I’m sure I’ve overlooked something obvious!

06/06/2025

When I’m asked to retouch headshots, clients or photographers first mention, “Please don’t go too far; I don’t want the image to look plastic or overly retouched.” My unique selling point (USP) is to make the subject look like how they believe they already look.

Subtle, small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in the final result. For instance, in this image, I slightly lifted the jawline, opened the eyes a bit, whitened the teeth, and subtly softened the skin and under-eye bags. I also enhanced the eyebrows and lightened and darkened the area under the chin. With a few additional tweaks, I aim to ensure the final image doesn’t appear ‘plastic.’ See if you can spot the extra changes!

I understand that even this level of editing can be controversial, as some may argue, “Why not leave it completely natural?” However, I have yet to meet anyone—man or woman—who doesn’t want to look great in their headshot, reflecting their self-image.

It’s important to note that this technique is most effective when the original photograph is taken by a professional photographer; a photo from a group shot taken on someone’s phone will never suffice, as the saying goes, “you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear”!

Finally, I happen to know that the sitter in this example was thrilled with the finished result, “That’s captured me so well,” I said … sorry … SHE said!

30/04/2025

From Sun-Filled Summers to Winter Wonderlands

Continuing my series of four, this is number three. I upped my game more in this one by adding ice to the pond in the foreground and some bare trees to make the scene more realistic.

16/04/2025

This very old photo of a 1920s basketball team is something I worked on a few years ago for a book about the history of Canadian basketball. I completed this project long before AI tools were available, and now I find myself wondering if I could achieve a better result using AI features or if it would end up looking unnatural.

11/04/2025

Changing backgrounds can be a fun and rewarding task in Photoshop, but it's essential to approach it with care, especially when working with subjects with intricate features like hair. With a few techniques up your sleeve, you can masterfully blend your subjects into any setting, creating stunning visuals that engage your audience

28/03/2025

Before and After: The Transformative Effect of Shadow Removal in Photoshop.

In digital photography, the art of editing images can significantly enhance their visual appeal. One of the most transformative techniques in Photoshop is shadow removal. While shadows can add depth and realism to an image, they can also detract from the subject if they are too harsh or unflattering.

This before image is quite extreme, but it does demonstrate how far shadow removal can be taken.

18/03/2025

Here’s the second of four transformations.

17/03/2025

Before Christmas, I worked on a project that transformed a winter scene into a snowy landscape. Inspired by this, I decided to apply the same technique to other images, but this time, I aimed to turn summer scenes into winter wonderlands. This proved to be much more challenging!

Here’s the first of four transformations.

07/03/2025

Eliminating stray hairs to enhance the facial features in Photoshop.

I’ve been experimenting in Photoshop this week with various techniques for removing messy hair that crosses the face and ruins an otherwise good image. I tried several methods, but I found that frequency separation works best for me.

30/10/2024

Enhancing Memories - How a Skilled Retoucher Can Transform Your Family Photos

A skilled Photoshop retoucher can take your treasured photos and amplify their emotional impact, preserving your memories in a beautiful, lasting way. Whether you’re preparing images for a family album, sharing them online, or even displaying them as art in your home, investing in retouching can make all the difference. With their expertise, your cherished moments can shine brighter than ever before, allowing you to revisit those memories with the clarity and warmth they deserve. So, if you have special photos waiting for a touch of magic, consider enlisting the help of a skilled retoucher and watch your memories come to life.

03/06/2024

Looking for a fresh logo without the hassle of reshooting every item on your entire website?

Are you a business owner who's been considering a logo change but dreading the hassle of reshooting all your products with the new logo? Look no further! I have the perfect solution for you. With the power of Photoshop, I can seamlessly update your logo on all your products without the need for costly reshoots.

Changing your logo is a significant step for your business, and it shouldn't be hindered by the fear of additional expenses. By utilizing Photoshop, I can efficiently update your logo across all your products, saving you time and money. This means you can refresh your brand image without breaking the bank.

Don't let the fear of reshooting products hold you back from evolving your brand. Embrace change and let me help you seamlessly transition to your new logo with ease and affordability. Get in touch today and let's give your brand the refreshed look it deserves

Address

Stuart Road
London
TW107QR

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Website

http://www.joannecraskedigitalretouching.co.uk/

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